Organic Agriculture
In recent years, the Republic of Moldova has become increasingly visible on the EU organic products market. According to the EU imports of organic agri-food products report , the import volume of organic agri-food products in the EU from the Republic of Moldova was 22,321 t in 2020 - 44% less than in 2019, when organic products exports to The European Union exceeded 40 thousand tons, which places the Republic of Moldova in the TOP 20 most important partners of the EU in this regard.
In the 2020’s pandemic framework, the Republic of Moldova lost positions, but is still in the TOP 30 EU trading partners in the field of organic agricultural products.
For the second year in a row, the Republic of Moldova ranks in the TOP 3 countries that deliver organic cereals to this market (except wheat and rice). The exported volume reached 7.5 thousand tons in 2020. In 2018, the volume of cereals in this category exceeded 20 thousand tons.
The Republic of Moldova ranks 8th in the list of oilseeds exporters (excluding soybeans) by volume, which is about 6% of total European imports.
According to the Atlas of Organic Agriculture in the Republic of Moldova in 2020, there were over 150 ECO producers in the Republic of Moldova. More than two-thirds are certified by international CBs, which means they actively export to the EU.
Moldovan BIO products exported to EU 2018 (Tons)
| Certified organic products | Aprox(t) | Moldova Import to EU(t) |
|---|---|---|
| Sunflower seeds | 14.000-18.000 | 15.593 |
| Corn | 20.000-34.000 | 9.191 |
| Wheat | 19.000-26.000 | 8.833 |
| Soy | 1.800-2.300 | 1.221 |
| Green peas | 3.000-3.500 | 1.010 |
| Rape | 2.300-2.900 | No data available |
| Walnuts kernels* | 8.000-14.000 | 3.665 |
| Prunes | 1.200-1.600 | 298 |
| Levender oil** | 11-15 | No data available |
Moldova is the country in the Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia (EECCA) region with the most developed organic sector, both commercially and in terms of government policy and involvement. The organic sector does not have a long history, but the joint efforts of NGOs, investors and the Government have generated a continuous development of the organic agricultural sector in the Republic of Moldova.
Ponderea culturilor organice, hectare (2019)
Having a rich tradition in harvesting fruits and vegetables grown on the European continent and an industrial experience in the livestock sector, the Republic of Moldova has managed to adopt good agricultural practices - based on innovation, environmental protection and efficient soil management - earlier than other countries in the region.
Moldovan farmers use the advanced methods offered by organic farming and are able to ensure large harvests of organic products, for which the demand on the international markets has increased.
Moldovan products are thoroughly controled at any stage of production and meet all phytosanitary requirements. They have conformity and quality certificates ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 22000, necessary for the export procedure. This is one of the reasons why Moldovan products have access to the vast market of the European Union and to the countries of Central Asia and the Middle East.